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Stephanie Dubick’s Top Ten List- August 6
White Lung- ‘Sorry’ (Deranged)
Why Canadian punk rock fails to be taken seriously; or even something that people are well aware of (aside from Fucked Up), is well beyond my understanding. But lead singer—and avid music journalist—Mish Way, leads the Vancouver-bred outfit, White Lung, along a more melodically-driven line this time around with ‘Sorry,’ an addictive punk LP that showcases the strong, uphill progression of Way’s songwriting skills since 2010’s debut release, ‘It’s the Evil’. This may change your mind about music from Canada being limited to Feist and those dudes from Broken Social Scene (which Feist was also in).
DIIV- ‘Oshin’ (Captured Tracks)
To say that DIIV and their debut album, ‘Oshin,’ haven’t been playing repeatedly on the ol’ ipod would be a straight-up lie. It’s actually been playing for more than 6 months. Continually. But months before DIIV’s debut in June, their EP was the defining soundtrack for that particular moment in my life (which wasn’t THAT long ago, but whatever). As a fan of everything post-punk, DIIV automatically felt comfy and cozy to my ears. Partially likened to that of a New Order persuasion, and partly to that of late-80’s shoegaze pioneers like My Bloody Valentine, DIIV is a necessity to your itunes account. That is if getting lost in tonal, art-drenched tangents is perhaps your thing. It’s kinda mine.
Wax Idols- ‘No Future’ (HoZac)
A borderline Gothic take on post-punk’s already darkened eccentricities, and beautifully evened out with bombastic spurts of energetic, punk rock prowess, this quartet from the’Frisco bay caught my attention with “Gray Area,” a track off of their 2nd LP, ‘No Future,’ that riles up those tendencies to self-loath, and gives the emotional green light to feel bad about no one knowing the real you. As a lover of music I can listen to on 3am walks, this song—and LP—always drives me to program Wax Idols on repeat.
Mission of Burma- ‘UNSOUND’ (Fire)
‘UNSOUND’, Mission of Burma’s Fourth album release during their 2000’s comeback, embraces the melodic-vs.-noise-rock dichotomy that fans of MOB have admired since 1982’s, ‘VS.’ Lead singer Roger Miler, and bassist/songwriting partner, Clint Conley, continue to expound upon the John and Paul-like duality of their songwriting partnership with tracks such as “This is Hi Fi,” a chaotic wall of sound and noise (and a notable Roger track), interspersed with repetitive vocals of the tracks title, and ‘‘Sectionals in Mourning,” a more traditionally-structured punk track courtesy of Clint.
Throwing Up- “Mother Knows Best” (Big Love)
Throwing Up is a newer, British, punk band with a fierce, DIY-mentality; not something that’s meant to provoke upchuck or even mild forms of indigestion. As a band that came per recommendation from White Lung’s lead singer, Mish Way, overheard during an interview she did with Nardwuar in March, I youtube’d Throwing Up last week and was pleased with what I heard. Now I can’t stop playing “Mother Knows Best,” a ferocious, punk rock single mixed with catchy hooks and a thin layer of pop rock awareness similar to bands such as X-Ray Spex and The Raincoats. Yes, Throwing Up is awesome. That sounds a bit funny, doesn’t it?
Bleeding Rainbow- “Pink Ruff” (HoZac)
So the name is obviously a satirical spoof on the 1980’s children’s show, but since they couldn’t use that exact name (due to copy writing laws or some shite), it was time to be a bit more creative: thus renaming the band to Bleeding Rainbow. Though a delightfully humorous band title, Bleeding Rainbow’s music is anything but humorous, automatically forcing you to take them as seriously as you would Best Coast. With the first single, “Pink Ruff,” having just been released last week, this dreamy, ear-pleasing track is a teaser to their upcoming LP, ‘Yeah Right’, debuting within the next few months.
Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra- ‘Theatre Is Evil’ (Self-released)
As longtime fans of The Dresden Dolls, the moment that Amanda Palmer and drummer, Brian Viglione, made their dent in the pages of rock mags and websites, Bostonians couldn’t help but feel a sense of hometown pride. But years later, when the shock of the Dresden’s disbanding eventually set in, tears were wiped away and general interest in their other side-projects flourished. Brian joined as drummer of the New York punk collective, World/inferno Friendship Society, and Amanda began her own critically-praised solo career with releases like 2008’s, ‘Who Killed Amanda Palmer?’ Now, Mrs. Neil Gaiman returns with her newest, Kickstarter-funded side-project, Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra, that heavily taps upon musical elements like synth and pop rock not nearly as expressed on past albums as much as they are here. Check out the track “Melody Dean” and see for yourself. Even though you’ll have to wait until September for the album’s release, the wait will be worth it.
Nu Sensae- ‘Sundowning’ (Suicide Squeeze)
Another Canadian band that made my list is hardcore/punk outfit, Nu Sensae. With enough attitude and stripped-down chaotic chord-age to maintain punks often rocky listening landscape, the members of Nu Sensae carry on the head-bashing qualities of punk and the grittiness of Grunge with their newest album, ‘Sundowning’, coming out in early August. Northwest music fans rejoice!
Ringo Deathstarr- “RIP” (Club AC30)
Anticipating The Jesus and Mary Chain’s upcoming US tour, is exciting, but listening to a band that builds a unique sound all their own out of the elements that define above-mentioned band, is also impressive and exciting, too. Ever since their first, self-titled album in 2007, I’ve been a fan of Ringo Deathstarr. But the single “RIP” off of their soon-to-be-released album is driving me insane. I can’t stop playing it. It’s everything I love about the arty quality of bands from the late 80’s, mixed together with a fuzzier, more modernized twist on the genre that’s downright intoxicating.
Dum Dum Girls- “Lord Knows” (Captured Tracks)
As I gave this a listen-to yesterday, it seemed like “Lord Knows,” The Dum Dum Girls’ newest track off of their upcoming EP, ‘End of Daze,’ was lacking the emotion of past tracks like “Bedroom Eyes” or “Coming Down,” or even their cover of The Smiths “There is a Light…,” but no, this wasn’t the case; I just didn’t have my ears fully opened. Re-listening a few times over for the past few hours has given me a new perspective, and now, I’m a definite fan. The lulled, guilt-ridden vocals of lead singer, Kristin Gundred (“Lord dont judge me for the things I’ve done/To get off the only one”) move themselves along flawlessly thanks to the song’s gorgeous back beat which provides a solid, structural frame that keeps the track afloat, likened to the one Sleigh Bells used in “Rill Rill.” Fortunately, though, for Dum Dum Girls, the lyrical content they write in their songs reaches depths that Sleigh Bells only wish they could go.
